Smartmatic admits rescanned ballots, data change probable in PCOS
By Charlie V. Manalo 06/09/2010 House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms chairman Makati Rep. Teddyboy Locsin yesterday backtracked on his earlier statement clearing Smartmatic on the allegations of poll fraud saying it is too early to absolve the PCOS machines supplier from any wrongdoing. At the conclusion of the House probe into reports of massive cheating in the country’s first automated polls, Locsin said that with Smartmatic not being consistent in its statements, he cannot help but suspect that Smartmatic may also be involved in the electoral fraud one way or another. “No. you can’t make that expectation (of clearing Smartmatic) until I look at the evidence and testimonies,” Locsin said when asked if he was ready to clear Smartmatic. “It cannot be. You gave answers to those questions for weeks. If your answers keep changing, this is the sign of something.” Locsin Jr. admitted that the automated election system is “susceptible” to cheating, explaining that cheating in the last elections cannot be ruled out, with the admission of Smartmatic that ballots can be rescanned as well as the data stored in the same compact flash (CF) cards. Manipulation of votes favoring certain candidates with the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) participation is very probable, Locsin said. Last week, after the House panel conducted an ocular inspection at the Smartmatic plant in Cabuyao, Laguna, Locsin declared he was satisfied with the PCOS machines supplier’s explanation and demonstration. “When we went to Cabuyao visit I asked them a summary and the critics said of automation, they passed the test, now we will see about the rest of the testimonies, the consistencies of the reasoning, which is the transcript,” said Locsin. Locsin also cited the case of Biliran Rep. Glen Chong, which he said was the best testimony on the alleged cheating. While Chong lost by mere 600 votes to his rival, the solon presented documentary evidence such as election returns (ERs) which showed huge discrepancies. Locsin said he would finish his committee report on the probe, adding the next Congress might use as basis on whether to push forward with the automated election or revert to manual. “We will know. My report is just one aspect how it will be used by 15th Congress plus other data because they will continue to open other things. We will determine the fate of the automated elections. Then there are the barangay elections, there is a suggestions that we use shaded ballots although it will be counted manually,” said Locsin. .... MORE Source: The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100609hed2.html |
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